The power of two
Allow me to introduce you to Zoe Martinez and Sarahe Gorashi, two juniors from Niagara Falls High School.
The duo got together recently to plan a peace march in the Cataract City. The march, at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, got about two dozen people (starting from two) to protest the impending war against Iraq.
While you may say, “Two dozen people, that’s laughable,” I say that’s 24 more than would have protested if it were not the gumption of these two girls.
Many a great plan was hatched by two like people who suddenly realize they share an idea and then spreading their idea to the rest of the world.
The brothers McDonald convinced one Ray Krok to turn their little hamburger shack into an international multi-billion dollar empire.
Imagine what Martinez and Gorashi can accomplish given their goal.
“Thank you for your help and support,” Gorashi said in an email. “May peace one day prevail.”
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look as though peace will prevail.
President Bush last night gave Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hour to leave Iraq, saying if he didn’t, war would ensue.
You and I both know that Saddam isn’t going to leave Iraq. We also know that Bush knows that.
And if you’ve read or heard me lately, you know my position on the war, but let me clear something up.
Neither I, nor the majority of my fellow peaceniks, have anything against our troops. We wish they weren’t about to go to war, but we certainly don’t wish them harm.
News stories — even ones appearing in this paper — have painted a picture of two movements: pro-peace and pro-troops. Both these are a fallacy.
I know that the “pro-peace” folks, for the most part, support our troops. Now, there may be a few wackos who will spit in troops’ faces, but they don’t represent the movement. So, really, pro-peace is pro-troops.
And I’m sure that the “pro-troops” folks would prefer a peaceful resolution than to go to war. It’s not like I think that half the country is throwing caution to the wind and hoping for war. So, really, pro-troops is pro-peace.
Really, the difference between the sides, is perception.
It’s kind of like “pro-life” and “pro-choice.” Do you really believe that “pro-choice” means “anti-life?” or “pro-life” means “anti-choice?”
Sometimes, the words we use can’t really convey the thoughts we’re thinking.
I heard once that Eskimos have more than 20 words to convey “love.”
We cram all those into just “love,” though.
Is it any wonder we don’t understand one another? And the lack of understanding will always lead to conflict.
But all it takes is two people to come together — and they can bring the world together. Just ask Zoe and Sarahe.
